Elementalism Feat

SkidAce · Oct 2, 2015

My homebrew has used some version of the 2e Tome of Magic's Elemental Wizards for some time. I have created a feat, and am working on a wizard archetype that replicates that type of wizard specialty.

Since I am adhering to the intent of a previously developed class, there were some constraints on my design. I have decided to use a feat (much like Magic Initiate) to simulate dabbler's in elementalism, and a wizard school for the dedicated "Orders of Elementalism".

Simply put, you can get a fire elementalist or other specialty via spell list development/choices. But as stated above, I wanted to retain some of the 2e version for continuity. Here is the feat, and once the class/school is created, I may post that as well.

Even though this replicates 2e specialists, feel free to critique, so I know what to watch for in play. (Mainly been NPCs).

---

Choose one element as your specialty. I.e Fire, Earth(acid), Water (cold), or Air (lightning). You gain the benefits of this feat for spells of your chosen specialty, but lose access to spells that oppose your chosen element.
Fire opposes Water, Air opposes Earth, and vice versa.

Elementalists learn spells related to their element at half the time and cost.
Choose and learn one cantrip associated with your element.
You have advantage on saving throws versus spells of your chosen element.
Once per long rest, you may cast your cantrip or a spell as using a spell slot 1d4 levels higher.

See the Elementalist wizard class archetype for enhanced elemental abilities.

SkidAce · Oct 3, 2015

Summon Critique! [MENTION=13009]Paraxis[/MENTION]

SkidAce · Oct 4, 2015

Counting it as not to far out of whack then.

Later!

transcendantviewer · Oct 7, 2015

The ability to cast a cantrip at higher power levels struck me as odd. I can't say it'll be too powerful, considering it's a once/long rest ability, but it's very strange.

SkidAce · Oct 7, 2015

transcendantviewer said:
The ability to cast a cantrip at higher power levels struck me as odd. I can't say it'll be too powerful, considering it's a once/long rest ability, but it's very strange.

Thank you for the input.

The odd part that you are referring to was me trying to "convert" an ability they had in 2E. Here is the text.

2E Tome of Magic said:
Once per day, the elementalist may choose to cast one memorized spell from his element of specialty as if he was 1d4 levels higher...

It gave my campaign elementalists a unpredictable (from their foes point of view) boost in power. "Don't anger the fire mage!" etc.

Since 5e allows for casting spells in higher slots, I thought doing that for free once a day was an equivalent ability.

SkidAce · Oct 7, 2015

Hmm, upon reflection I see your point, casting the CANTRIP one level higher may not do anything, if say its increased power from the cantrip description doesn't kick in until a certain level.

A dilemma indeed. Perhaps take out the cantrip part and leave it as a boost to spells.

Thanks again.

Li Shenron · Oct 9, 2015

SkidAce said:
Elementalists learn spells related to their element at half the time and cost.

Choose and learn one cantrip associated with your element.

You have advantage on saving throws versus spells of your chosen element.

Once per long rest, you may cast your cantrip or a spell as using a spell slot 1d4 levels higher.

See the Elementalist wizard class archetype for enhanced elemental abilities.

I think this is mostly balanced, perhaps a bit too good (maybe remove the last benefit), but overall hard to say considering it also carries the cost of a barred element.

That said, I really dislike the concept. I had enough of the whole idea of getting a boost in something by being forbidden to use the opposite. It doesn't help balancing things properly, ever. In some cases it's an irrelevant cost if the player didn't plan to learn opposite spells anyway, while in other cases it just unfairly prohibits choices that would be totally fine.

Furthermore also the association between Aristotelian elements and damage types is an unsolvable problem, just like the proverbial fitting of a square peg in a round hole.

Honestly, I never want to see these 2 trite concepts springing up in our games ever again...

But that's just me. If it works for you, then you'll be fine, and as I said the feat overall is mostly ok.

SkidAce · Oct 9, 2015

Li Shenron said:
I think this is mostly balanced, perhaps a bit too good (maybe remove the last benefit), but overall hard to say considering it also carries the cost of a barred element.

That said, I really dislike the concept. I had enough of the whole idea of getting a boost in something by being forbidden to use the opposite. It doesn't help balancing things properly, ever. In some cases it's an irrelevant cost if the player didn't plan to learn opposite spells anyway, while in other cases it just unfairly prohibits choices that would be totally fine.

Furthermore also the association between Aristotelian elements and damage types is an unsolvable problem, just like the proverbial fitting of a square peg in a round hole.

Honestly, I never want to see these 2 trite concepts springing up in our games ever again...

But that's just me. If it works for you, then you'll be fine, and as I said the feat overall is mostly ok.

Thanks for the input.

I kinda like opposed elements, Kalterian Firemage and Nimrood Evil Wizard of Ice have been backdrop enemies for a long time in the campaign.

Mechanically, I would not just say "to gain this you must lose that". For example, 2e and 3e wizard specialists, losing a class of spells. There was no thematic reason in my opinion for that.

However, for elementalists, I have a "thematic" reason, hence I am okay with it.

Game on!

transcendantviewer · Oct 13, 2015

Perhaps for their boosted cantrip ability, allow them to deal an extra, special damage die. Have them roll a d12 and add that to the damage that their cantrip deals for that attack. That way, it adds variance that always feels relevant without feeling too strong. Let them do this once per short or long rest, on account that it's not as powerful as just getting the damage of their cantrip potentially quadrupled and then doubled again on a crit. This gives them an extra die that can be doubled on a critical hit. Not enough to upset game balance, in my book.